Life at a "Swell's" pace

Road trip: Central Oregon

The Mr. and I took off to Central Oregon two weeks in a row. The first road trip took us to Christmas Valley, Oregon, and Summer Lake, Oregon. This Central Oregon road trip was to look at land and other places to possibly have a home base within the next couple of years. This road trip was a nice getaway from the Willamette Valley and we were thrilled to be going east over the Cascade Mountain Range toward some of our favorite areas of Oregon. Here's a quick recap of our recent Central Oregon road trip.

Three Finger Jack

Hoodoo Butte

Mount Washington

North and Middle Sister

Mount Washington

Waterfall from the Mount Washington viewpoint

Blue Lake near Suttle Lake

Black Butte

Cache Mountain

South Sister and Broken Top respectively

North Sister and Middle Sister

South Sister

Broken Top Mountain

This is one of my favorite views near the Three Sisters Viewpoint. This is a view of Cache Mountain through the flat landscape in Sisters, Oregon.

Three Sisters-North, Middle, and South

Traveling toward Christmas Valley took us along a stretch of road that gives you a perfect view of Mt. Bachelor. This view of Mt. Bachelor is just outside of La Pine, Oregon near Fort Rock, Oregon

Inside Christmas Valley, Oregon

Raven watching us closely.

The area of Christmas Valley, Oregon, is flat and the view distance seems to go on forever. The town itself is quite small, including the post office.

Near Fort Rock, Oregon

After a full day of looking around Christmas Valley, we work up the next morning and took off toward an area known as Summer Lake. The highway leading to Summer Lake is a long one, but the travel time was soon broken up by the highway cattle drive. The horseback riders with the cattle were some of the nicest we've met so far on this road trip. They smiled and talked with us for awhile before heading on with the drive down the road.

The views headed toward Summer Lake are some of the most beautiful views of the land. Oregon is in it's prime right now and being in Central Oregon we got to see some of the different landscape that Oregon is about.

Memorial to settlers coming into Summer Lake, Oregon

A great tiny home at Summer Lake, Oregon

Before reaching Christmas Valley there's an area called Fort Rock, Oregon. This area is known for the unusual rock formation that was discovered by a man named, William Sullivan, in 1873. The rock is actually a volcanic landmark called a tuff ring and is now part of the Oregon State Parks system.

South Ice Caves near La Pine, Oregon

We didn't go inside the caves on this trip, but you can view the inside of the caves here.

Diamond Peak near Crescent Lake, Oregon

Lowell Covered Bridge on Dexter Reservoir in Lowell, Oregon. Dexter, Oregon is famous in the fact that it was part of the filming in Animal House.

Lookout Point Dam

Fields of Butterweed near Brownsville, Oregon

Five simple things

Hello.

So this week has been a blast! The Mr. and I spent some time over at Sunriver, Oregon, and had such a great getaway. I have many pictures to share and those will come in a separate post soon. As far as back on home base, today is the day we begin our garden planting. I've worked up some plans at the end of February and I am pleased to bring those drawings to life. The Mr. and I like to keep a garden each year mainly because we like to grow our own food and know that it's healthy, safe, and rewarding. I grew up always having a garden and my dad is one of the best gardeners. I learned a lot from him about respecting the earth and giving back what we take. My mother grows some of the best plants and flowers in three counties back home in Arkansas, too. Her flowerbeds are the talk of the town. I am looking forward to sharing all of the growth, foraging, and pleasure our little gardens will bring this season. Here are five simple things that made this week good.

1. This weed guide...

With The Bean and I doing more foraging it's nice to have a guide for our own area that helps us identify random weeds that we are surrounded by and know whether they are edible or poisonous. Interested in this book? Get a PDF copy for yourself here, or print copy here.

2. These Mother's Day gifts...

For Mother's Day morning I received the most perfect gifts from The Bean and The Mr. My favorite chocolate and a cookbook from Joanna Gaines that I've been swooning for. They definitely know me! Looking forward to whipping up some great recipes in this cookbook. Another cookbook/foraging book I've had my eye on.

3. This deer...

...And many others we saw at Sunriver, Oregon, this last road trip.

4. This yellow door...

The door to our suite at Sunriver, Oregon. It loved the bright, cheery yellow color of it and it couldn't help but make you smile each time you walked through it.

4. Yogi Surprise...

Always giving props to Yogi Surprise. Never a dull box and never a dull item. This month has to be the best ones yet! I know I may say that every month, but they just get better and better each month. You can get on next month's box here and get a $10 credit towards your first box at with code: REFVIZJFQGQVQ

5. Final thoughts...

In light of what took place today at yet another location where people should feel secure, I can't help but add my thoughts to the mix of many others out there. Instead of ending this post with my normal, "Have a good weekend," I am ending it with these final thoughts instead. Being a no name blogger that doesn't get a lot of traffic, it's hard to voice myself and get it out there on many platforms. Being a low key blogger does have its downfall when it comes to wanting to get the message out that things need to change. We all know it. So whether it's shared here, or on a large-scale blog, or not, we all know something has to give. Loving others and showing them that love is not a hard task. Letting people, especially young adults, know that they are loved, wanted, needed, and enjoyed is an easy thing to do. Being hateful, mean, and judgmental to people is hard and takes practice. Spreading hate through your voice, your words, or your actions is the wrong way to live. Tell others you love them, be near those that make you beam, and give that love away to others that need it much more than you think. Love really is all we need. I am going to spend the weekend hugging, loving, and showing The Bean and The Mr. how much they truly are loved. In times like these, it makes me wonder as a parent where someone failed these young kids and young adults that carry out such horrible actions against others younger than them, the same age as them, and adults that guide them. I won't be praying for the families of these victims today and this weekend. I will, however, be looking into ways that I can do my part as a parent and push for change.

Five simple things

Hello there.

TGIF! I don't know if people say that anymore, but I sure do. Especially when the weekend has great things in store. If you remember last Friday the mention of the second round of another road trip. Today marks trip number two. We are headed out of the Valley and jetting over to a nice place called, Sunriver. We've been here before and had a great time! The Mr. and I can't wait to get away again and this time be able to relax without having an agenda or a schedule. As I sit here and type this I can't help but think that this summer will be one for the books, for sure! We are already planning a few more road trips and I can't wait to get away and explore, forage, and be one with nature. All three of us are road trippers by heart and this is definitely the way to live. Travel is, after all, the healthiest addiction. So with that, here are five simple things that made this week good!

1. This rear-view...

As you know, The Mr. and I took our Christmas Valley trip last Friday and learned a lot about the area in two days. The best part of traveling there was the great views ahead and behind us the entire way. This is a view of Mt. Bachelor in the rear view mirror.

2. This shot from Ag Fest...

We took this same picture when The Bean was four. Although at the time he was four, the wheel seemed a lot bigger. Ag Fest here in Oregon is always a fun event. It gives kids and their parents a look into the farmer practices that surround the area. The Bean also got to pan for gold. He was quite good at it and ended up finding some nice flakes in his pan.

3. Kettle Chips...

If you're a fan of the brand Kettle Chips, you will be pleased to know that their practices are still small scale and based right here in Oregon. Salem, Oregon, is the headquarters for the brand and we are big time fans of their great chips and their high standards.

4. Waterloo campground...

The weather has been wonderful here in the Valley the last few days and it has me dreaming of floating the river. This view is looking over the bridge near Waterloo Park in Waterloo, Oregon, of the South Santiam River.

5. Fields of butterweed...

So many fields of gold here at the moment. The aroma coming from these fields are intoxicating. I love this time of year in Oregon. It's such a beautiful state and right now its on full display!

A few more things:

• Figment Portraits. Looking for a conversation piece?

• Summer's coming. Get some good quality flip flops.

• Show off your carbon offsets.

• Find a like-minded, green, or vegan, or even zero waste partner.

• Green tips.

• Greenhouse from old windows. Weekend project?

• Grimm Brothers' Fairy Tales. (Complete list)

• What are the homeschool laws in your state?

• Herbs for healthy skin.

• Hippie Haven; Hippie tolerance.

Have a nice weekend!

Five simple things

Hello.

This week has had me all giddy. The Mr. and I are taking off on a fun excursion to the Christmas Valley area to look at pieces of land and a few houses for sale. I jokingly have made the reference-going from one Valley to another-per-say. Needless to say, I am looking forward to this little jot away from the "current" Valley. The Mr. and I are headed east this weekend and next weekend, so our calendar of road trips is quite full for the next two weeks. I hope this trip east this weekend will be a good chance for us to see what is available and give us some direction on whether or not land purchase there is a good investment. Meanwhile, I am packing and planning today and getting things around. The Mr. is getting off work early so we can get on the road before 1:00 p.m. This will be the first time The Bean will have a night alone and we are hoping things go well for him. He is getting to see if he can go a night without us in ear-shot, or quick driving distance. I feel the night alone will go just fine. After all, he has Hardy with him to alert him if strange things are afoot.

Here are five simple things that made this week good.

1. This flower stand...

Part of Peoria Gardens this flower stand sits right off the highway into Corvallis. We love getting fresh flowers and placing them throughout the house. This flower stand makes that possible each and every week.

2. The Blunder Bus...

Not sure the story with this bus, but I think the message on the back is wonderful! Happy trails to them!

3. Forest foraging...

The Bean and I have had some fun the last few weeks foraging around the Willamette Valley. We've found a few edibles here and there, but learned that both of us couldn't care less for any mushroom foraging. We have ran into a few other foragers along the way, but are slowly learning what it's like to know that food is free. We just have to forage for it. (more on this later)

4. This day trip...

The Bean and I have been taking off on various day trips lately just to get out and about. He is homeschooled so it's easy to just hop in the car after a morning of lessons and go somewhere random for a few hours. This week we decided to jet over the Cascade Mountain Range and see how the mountains looked on the other side. And we weren't disappointed. The views and the weather were perfect!

View of Belknap Crater and Mount Washington from the Mount Washington View Point on Highway 20 near Hoodoo Ski Bowl.

View of Three Finger Jack along Highway 20 near North Santiam Highway junction.

5. Yogi Surprise...

I have to always give a good shout out to Yogi Surprise each month. This is April's boxes that came toward the end of the month. Such a great box of goodies. Above is the Lifestyle Box and below is the Jewelry Box. These two are always such a welcome in this house. You can welcome them to your house too right here and get a $10 credit towards your first box with code: REFPPUHLW8TBI

A few more things:

• Home is where you park it.

• Swap foods at a Food Swap Meetup.

• This wall planter filled with herbs.

• Need a new mom gift? Try this.

• These storage containers for future road trips.

• Cool recycling and upcycling.

• Local Harvest store.

• Diet like a firefighter with the Engine 2 Diet.

• Fiji Water delivery.

• Lost any pictures, picture rolls of film, a note, perhaps? Find it here-maybe.

One more thing:

With the roll over to a new season that means a new change in ads. They are always placed on the right-hand side of the page, so take a moment and give them some love. The ads that are placed on this site help keep it going and also help support our little family. Thank you for giving them, and us, your patronage. (If you'd like to place an ad on South North South, we deal in any sized ad lots that fit this space and house them on the page for three months. Please email shelly@southnorthsouth.net for more information and a media kit that contains information about the brands and topics SNS covers. *Please note: The editor of the web page does not publish unsolicited guest posts or third-party content*